Jenna McMurray, QMI Agency

CALGARY - Police are investigating graffiti at several southeast homes they say could be part of a hate crime.

There were at least five reports of graffiti Saturday morning, Insp. Jason Bobrowich said.

Spray-painted swastikas appeared among other symbols and words, but it’s not clear whether the people who live in the homes were targeted, he said.

“Obviously the swastika image has a number of different connotations so that will have to be investigated,” Bobrowich said. “It may be associated to hate bias.”

Bobrowich said there was no initial indication the graffiti was related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East that has prompted a number of rallies within Calgary’s Israeli and Palestinian communities in recent weeks.

Regardless of the motive and whether it’s a hate crime or not, “it concerns the Calgary Police Service anytime graffiti of this nature is located,” he added.

Mike Dawson’s property was vandalized, though he doesn’t know of any reason why he would be specifically targeted.

“I got up this morning at 7:30, bring the dogs outside to pee and first thing I see is a big swastika on my hot tub cover,” he said, adding the symbol was actually backwards.